Weather
June is summer in Switzerland, and many travelers are pleasantly surprised by just how warm Switzerland can get in summer. Temperatures vary by altitude, but it's not uncommon for lower-lying areas to reach highs of 95°F (35°C). The average June temperature in Geneva, Lugano, and Zürich is around 70°F (21°C), with warmer temperatures during the day. In contrast, high-altitude Zermatt, in the Alps, has an average June temperature of just 45°F (7°C).
Days are also quite long, with the longest day of the year falling in late June. Expect the sun to rise before 6 am and to set after 9 pm.
Crowds & Costs
Summer, along with winter, is the high season for tourism in Switzerland. While the winter draws snow sports enthusiasts to the Alps, summer attracts hikers and travelers who want to spend time outdoors. Many hiking trails at higher altitudes will open for the summer season in June.
Summer festivals also attract visitors to the cities, particularly Geneva and Zürich. Book accommodation and travel in advance wherever you want to visit Switzerland this month. However, because much of Europe takes its summer vacation in July and August, you may find that June is less busy than later in the summer.
Where to Go
To enjoy the best of summer hiking, head to the Alps of the Jungfrau Region in Bernese Oberland. There are many great hiking trails to check out around the country, but one highlight is the Faulhornweg from Schynige Platte to First. The moderate route takes hikers past some of Switzerland's finest mountain panoramas. It should take 5-6 hours to hike the 9.9-mile (16-km) trail.
Another great place to head in June is Switzerland's only national park, the Swiss National Park in the Western Rhaetian Alps of eastern Switzerland. It's one of the most pristine parts of the Alps, and species of flora and fauna that are rare or even extinct elsewhere thrive here. Many visitors to the park hike the Val Trapchun trail, an easy day hike from which you can see ibex, chamois, marmots, and golden eagles.
Read more about day hikes in Switzerland here: Eight Best Day Hikes in Switzerland.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
What to Do
As well as hiking, you might want to see the mountains at a more leisurely pace. Cable cars, funicular railways, and cogwheel trains that may have been closed in the spring for maintenance will be open again in June, allowing you to get high up into the mountains with minimal effort. They're also especially fun for travelers with kids.
The Titlis cable car at Lake Lucerne and the Gornergrat cogwheel train in the Matter Valley are excellent choices. However, a highlight would have to be visiting the top of Jungfraujoch by cable car or cogwheel train, the highest railway station in Europe. It's a pricey trip, though, so make the most of a Swiss Travel Pass for discounted tickets if you have one.
Events in June
International Jazz Festival, Bern. Starting in late March and running until late May or early June, Bern's International Jazz Festival is held in the intimate setting of Marian's Jazzroom.
Pentecost and Whit Monday, nationwide. These religious festivals on two days in early June mean some businesses will be closed.
Street Artists Festival, Ascona. The town near Locarno in the Ticino region hosts pantomimes, stage plays, dance performances, jugglers, tightrope walkers, fire eaters, musicians, clowns, and more over 2-3 days in early June.
St. Galler Festspiele, St. Galler. Celebrate all things opera over two weeks in late June and July in the pretty mountain resort of St. Galler.
Fête de la Musique, Lausanne. Music performances of many genres are held in public places such as squares, parks, streets, and churches.
Traveling to Switzerland in June? Check out these great itineraries
Best of Bernese Oberland - 5 days. Hike from hut to hut under the snowy facades of some of the most famous peaks in the Swiss Alps. As you hike past the iconic peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, you'll pass through Alpine pastures and beside glacial lakes and rushing waterfalls.
Chamonix to Zermatt Walker's Haute-Route - 14 Days. Cover some of Europe's most dramatic topography on this two-week hike. From the gneiss spires of the Aiguilles Rouges and glaciated terrain of the Mont Blanc Range to pastoral meadows and peaceful lake shores, the scenery will be your constant companion as you make your way between alpine huts and towns.
More Helpful Information
Switzerland in May
Switzerland in July
Best Time of Year to Visit Switzerland
How Many Days to Spend in Switzerland